Avoiding additives to serve up healthy primary school meals

Healthy meals help children stay calm and focused at school – and now Hampshire County Council’s award-winning catering service, HC3S, has gone even further to support children’s behaviour. Its primary school meals have been praised for avoiding additives which have been found to trigger problematic behaviour in children.

HC3S has now, for more than ten years running, received the Hyperactive Children’s Support Group’s (HACSG) highest award for excellence for developing recipes and producing primary school meals which avoid artificial ingredients, and for working with schools, partner organisations and families to adopt this way of thinking.

The County Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development, Councillor Mel Kendal, said: “We’re very pleased to receive this recognition once again. Our staff are focussed on producing meals which minimise the use of additives so that all of the 60,000 children we cater for every day – including 2,200 with special dietary needs – receive the most nutritious food to support their health and wellbeing as soon as they start school.

“HC3S continues to develop healthy recipes in many ways such as reducing sugar and sweetener content, adding hidden vegetables into dishes, and preparing meals from scratch in the kitchens.

“At the same time, HC3S is doing brilliant, innovative work by going out on the road, holding events and recipe roadshows to show parents, children and schools the benefits of healthy cooking and eating.”

In May 2018, HC3S received national recognition from the Soil Association for producing fresh, high quality food to thousands of customers across Hampshire and beyond with a bronze level Food For Life award.

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